What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pelham	Weare
People
Population	14,449Highest	9,170Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH	45.6±4Highest 5% above NH
	Weare and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Weare and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1%	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Pelham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Pelham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH	$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH
	Pelham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH	$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH	$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH
	Weare and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$6,272Lowest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%	62.2%±24.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 10% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#84 of 120 in NH
School district	Pelham School District	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town	Pelham High School	John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.